Faulkner fails to win top spot on Senate ticket

Labor's Senate leader John Faulkner has railed against the party's factionalism after being relegated to second spot on the New South Wales Senate ticket for the next election.

The positions were decided by a vote of delegates at today's state Labor conference.

Despite the support of former prime ministers Gough Whitlam and Paul Keating, Senator Faulkner, from the Left faction, lost his bid for the top spot by 13 votes to low-profile, Right faction candidate, Steve Hutchins.

Senator Faulkner has described it a triumph of power over reason.

"While I am and I always will be a proud member of the Left, I believe that I have always put the Labor Party first," he said.

"What a pity [Labor Party state secretary] Eric Roozendaal and his ilk can't do the same."